The Mueller Report: What we learned from a Republican point of view

­By Klay DeVault / Delta Staff Writer

After nearly two years of investigating, Special Counsel Robert Mueller has finally released his report on whether or not the Trump Campaign concluded with the Russians to interfere with the 2016 presidential election.

Muller’s nearly 450 page report is split between two volumes. According to the Mueller report, Volume 1 describes the factual results of the Special Counsel’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and Russia’s interactions with the Trump Campaign.

Volume 1 is split into five different sections. According to the report, Section I describes the scope of the investigation, while Section II and III describe the ways Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election. Section IV describes the links between the Russian government and the individuals that are associated with the Trump campaign and the fifth and final section of Volume 1 sets forth the Special Counsel’s charging decisions.

Volume II of the Mueller addresses President Trump’s actions toward the FBI’s investigation to Russian Interference in the 2016 presidential election. Volume II is also concerned with the President’s action toward the Special Counsel’s investigation. According to the report, Volume II separately states its framework and the considerations that guided that investigation.

In the report, Mueller concludes that he did not find any evidence of conclusion between President Trump and Russia.

However, Mueller does point out an array of controversial actions performed by the President that were examined in the investigation’s obstruction inquiry. For example, In June 2017, President Trump allegedly told his White House counsel to inform the acting attorney general that Mueller had conflicts of interest and “must be removed.” According to the report, Trump fumed over the original appointment, stating the investigation would be the end of his presidency.

The report also states, that the President told then DOJ leader Jeff Sessions that he should resign, and he later tried to get Sessions to take back control of the investigation.

Mueller ultimately could not reach a conclusion on whether the President’s conduct amounted to obstruction.

According to report, Mueller states, “Because we determined not to make a traditional prosecutorial judgement, we did not draw ultimate conclusions about the President’s conduct. The evidence we obtained about the President’s actions and intent presents difficult issues that would need to be resolved if we were making a traditional prosecutorial judgement. At the same time, if we had confidence after a thorough investigation of the facts that the President clearly did not commit obstruction of justice, we would so state. Based on the facts and the applicable legal standards, we are unable to reach that judgement. Accordingly, while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.”

Several Republicans have come to the President’s aid after the findings of the Mueller report. One of the first to commit on the report was Sen. Lindsey Graham, chairman of the Judiciary committee.

“Good day for the rule of law,”said Graham. “Great day for President Trump and his team.”

“This case is closed,” said House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy. “It is time we move on for the good of the nation.”

Even the Republican National Committee responded to the reports findings stating, “For years, Democrats and many in the media promised us there was collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. Today, they were proven totally wrong and President Trump has been completely exonerated.”

With the Mueller report finally out, it proves that President Trump did not collude with the Russians to interfere in the 2016 presidential election and that he did not obstruct justice. The fact that Mueller didn’t find any evidence of collusion, proves that this two year “witch hunt” was a waste of time, as it proved the President’s innocence. I agree with Mr. McCarthy, the investigation is over and for the good of the nation it’s time to move on.

What’s done is done and there is no changing it.

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